Government

ByJackie Valley Megan Messerly

November 11th, 2017 - 2:05am

Someone holding several small American Flags with other flags and a crowd in the background. Photo credit: KathyKafka at iStock.com

For weeks after the Las Vegas shooting, Nevada’s delegates offered thanks to the first responders who raced to the scene or helped the wounded at hospitals.

This week their gratitude turned toward veterans.

In honor of Veterans Day, four of the six delegates issued statements honoring the men and women who have served or are serving in the nation’s armed forces. Reps. Ruben Kihuen and Mark Amodei did not send formal releases.

“While we can never fully repay our veterans for their service and sacrifice, we can do more to help these heroes when they return to civilian life through access to education, good jobs, and more effective post-service health care,” Titus wrote in her statement.

Not surprisingly, tax reform, immigration, health care and gun control also surfaced in delegates’ media bulletins as the House and Senate work through those issues in Washington, D.C. But it was an overall quieter week by mail count: Collectively, they only sent 32 news releases.

For more insight into what’s on their minds, browse our compilation of their formal communications. As always, we kept the actual punctuation and capitalizations within the news release subject lines.

CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO

Number of press releases issued this week: 11

The details: In the lead up to Veterans Day, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto urged Congress to “immediately pass” the bipartisan Dream Act, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for certain undocumented immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children.

Cortez Masto joined others for a press conference Thursday and pointed out that nearly 900 so-called Dreamers are serving in the U.S. military.

“DREAMers are American in every way—just not on paper,” she said. “Every day, nearly 900 of them serve in our nation’s armed forces. Yet their patriotism is rejected by a Commander-in-Chief who does not want to recognize their loyalty and service by granting them citizenship in the nation they serve.”

As usual, Cortez Masto sent more press releases this week than any other Nevada delegate. Her media missives touched on everything from Alzheimer’s disease to digital security.

The Senate on Thursday unveiled its version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Heller lauded in a news release he sent the following day. He’s a member of the Senate Finance Committee — the group that authored the bill.

“This legislation is a positive step toward providing families with the tax relief that they desperately need and deserve, growing our economy, and making America competitive again,” he wrote. “I will continue to stand up for Nevada’s priorities as we debate this bill and urge my colleagues to keep working around the clock until we get the job done.”

Other releases focused on veterans-related issues. Heller joined with Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, to introduce the bipartisan VA Provider Accountability Act. The measure would prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs from concealing medical mistakes made by health providers in the Veterans Health Administration.

The details: After another mass shooting claimed more lives — this time in Sutherland Springs, TX — Rep. Dina Titus increased her calls for gun-control policies. The Democrat echoed her familiar refrain as she seeks federal policies addressing background checks, bump stocks and high-capacity magazines.

“It is time Republican leaders respond to tragedy with more than a wink and a nod to the NRA and a moment of silence on the House floor,” Titus wrote in a release. “Churchgoers, school children, concert attendees, and other innocent Americans who have lost their lives cannot be ignored any longer.”

The animal lover also announced that she has enlisted help in her quest to curtail the Department of Veterans Affairs’ “unnecessary and inhumane medical experiments” on dogs.

“Our nation’s veterans deserve better than having the VA spend taxpayers’ money on cruel and ineffective experiments on dogs when there are other proven treatment methods available,” she wrote. “I’m honored that the American Military Retirees Association, The Retired Enlisted Association, Military-Veterans Advocacy, and VetsFirst have joined the many other veterans supporting my bipartisan work to stop needless dog testing at the VA.”

The details: Rep. Jacky Rosen kept her media bulletins to a minimum this week, issuing only three. She blasted President Donald Trump’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status for more than 5,000 Nicaraguans who have been shielded from deportation since 1999.

“This administration’s cruel decision will upend the lives of thousands of Nicaraguans who have come to America for safety and have been contributing to our communities and our economy for over a decade,” she said in a release. “This will separate parents from their American-born children and endanger the lives of thousands who have fled war, famine, political oppression, and catastrophic natural disasters.”

The congresswoman also announced that she’s co-sponsoring a bill to expand background checks for gun purchases and issued a statement thanking the 200,000 veterans who live in Nevada for their service.

The details: Rep. Ruben Kihuen concentrated on health care this week, sending four of his five media missives on the topic. He mostly focused on the need for Congress to extend the Community Health Centers Fund. The fund accounts for 70 percent of community health centers’ grant dollars from the federal government, meaning any disruptions would threaten their existence.

Kihuen visited a community health center in North Las Vegas on Friday to spread the message.

“Over 80,000 Nevadans rely on community health centers like Hope Christian Health center for vital primary and preventative care,” he said in a statement. “It’s unacceptable that hardworking Americans have to live in uncertainty while Congress fails to act to make sure they have access to health care. I will continue to work to make sure Congress extends the Community Health Centers Fund so that hardworking Nevada families can continue to count on community health centers to access the health care they need.”

His other news release detailed how rural development grants — totaling more than $50,000 — would help Nevada residents. For example, the money will allow the Mineral County Sheriff’s Department to buy a new patrol vehicle and the Walker River Paiute Tribe Child Care Center to install new doors and stairs.

Rep. Mark Amodei eschewed traditional press channels again this week, instead preferring to send his messages via social media or an email newsletter. On Thursday, he sent a detailed explanation of the House GOP tax bill to his newsletter followers.

“I hope this special edition update on the Tax Cut and Jobs Act helps you follow what the House is attempting to do on tax reform,” Amodei wrote. He asked readers to provide feedback regarding the bill on his website.

The congressman also touted the assistance his Reno office provides to constituents. In a Facebook post, Amodei said his office will intervene on behalf of constituents who need answers from a federal agency or have been treated unfairly.

INDY FAST FACTSDina TitusJob: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Nevada’s 1st Congressional District
Party: Democrat
In current office: 2013-present
Birthdate: May 23, 1950
Education:
College of William and Mary (B.A.)
University of Georgia (M.A.)
Florida State University, Tallahassee (Ph.D.)
Other public offices held:
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District (2009-2010)
Nevada State Senator, District 7 (1989-2008)
Total donations: $8,029,822 (2007-2018)
Top donors:
MGM Resorts International $131,060
University of Nevada $60,269
Rocky Research $58,300
Carpenters & Joiners Union $57,500
Barrick Gold $52,500
Last Report: 12/31/2017
Credit: Center for Responsive Politics

INDY FAST FACTSJacky RosenJob: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District
Party: Democrat
In current office: 2017-present
Birthdate: August 2, 1957
Education: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (B.A.)
Other public offices held: None
Total donations: $1,702,238 (2017-2018)
Top donors:
EMILY's List $56,212
League of Conservation Voters $28,410
DE Shaw & Co $19,900
Omni New York $16,200
Varian Medical Systems $12,300
Last Report: 9/30/2017
Credit: Center for Responsive Politics